THE SOUNDSCAPE APPROACH FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND CONSERVATION OF MEDITERRANEAN LANDSCAPES: PRINCIPLES AND CASE STUDIES

Abstract The fine-grained mosaic of natural and human-modified patches that characterizes the Mediterranean region has created a multifaceted system that is difficult to investigate using traditional ecological techniques. In this context, sounds have been found to be the optimum model to provide indirect and timely information about the state of ecosystems. The sonic nature of the environment (the soundscape) represents an important component of the landscape, and the new discipline of soundscape ecology has recently been shown to have appropriate tools for investigating the complexity of the environment. In the last decade, technological advances in the acoustic field have led researchers to carry out wide-scale and long-term ecological research using new and efficient tools, such as digital low cost sound recorders, and autonomous software and metrics. Particularly in the Mediterranean region, where land transformation occurs at a very rapid rate, soundscape analysis may represent an efficient tool with which to:1) track transformations in the community balance, 2) indicate the most acoustically complex parts (bioacoustic hotspots) of the land mosaic, 3) prevent environmental degradation, and 4) decide whether protection or restoration actions are most appropriate. Conserving the quality of Mediterranean sounds means preserving the natural dynamics of its animal populations and also involves maintaining the cultural heritage, human identity, and the spiritual values of the area

Report on research activities carried out for determination of Cadmium and Arsenic in tissues of different cetacean species

Concentrations of Cd and As were determined in organs and tissues (muscle, heart, kidney, lung and liver) of two cetacean species (Stenella coeruleoalba and Truncatus truncatus) stranded along the Italian coasts during the period 2000–2009. Significant differences were found between Cd concentrations in the different analyzed tissues. Particularly, the kidney shows the highest concentrations of Cd in all analyzed specimens, followed by the liver. The heart shows the highest As concentrations with respect to the other tissues analyzed. Specimens of S. coeruleoalba show higher Cd concentrations in their tissue than specimens of T. truncatus, probably because of a higher proportion of squid in their diet

Report on research activities carried out for determination of Mercury in different tissues of cetaceans

Mercury concentration in different tissues of two dolphin species (Stenella coreuleoalba and Tursiops truncatus), stranded along the Italian coasts during the period 2000– 2009, were reported in order to assess Hg distribution patterns in different tissues. The highest concentrations of Hg were found in liver samples of both species (8.4-1752 mg/kg dw for Stenella coeruleoalba and 9.6-1404 mg/kg dw for Tursiops truncatus). Relative high mercury concentrations were reported also in kidney and lung tissues. The existence of Hg bioaccumulation process over time was also reported. The dataset documents the existence of different mechanisms of mercury bioaccumulation in the different tissues analyzed

Rapporto finale sull'impatto del sistema ISWEC nell'area marina interessata (isola di Pantelleria) dal punto di vista idrologico, dei nutrienti e metalli pesanti.

Il presente report tecnico riporta i risultati di un monitoraggio dei parametri fisici e biogeochimici della colonna d'acqua finalizzati a valutare l'eventuale impatto ambientale del sistema ISWEC (Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter). Il sistema è un convertitore di tipo galleggiante che utilizza l'inclinazione del fianco dell'onda per produrre energia elettrica ubicato all’interno della zona ZPS (Zona a Protezione Speciale) in prossimità dell’isola di Pantelleria (Stretto di Sicilia). I risultati ottenuti hanno evidenziato una variabilità ipotizzabile interna al sistema marino sia per quanto riguarda le principali caratteristiche chimico-fisiche delle acque che per quanto riguarda la componente biogeochimica intesa come nutrienti disciolti e metalli sia disciolti che in fase particolato

Relationships of sound pressure and particle velocity during pile driving in a flooded dock

Underwater sound is characterized by two different components, directional particle motion and scalar pressure waves. Here, we studied sound pressure and particle motion during experimental pile driving in a confined industrial-sized shipbuilding dock. The pile driving noise was generated by a 200 kg hammer striking a 7.5m steel pile. Noise data were collected using a hydrophone and a 3-axis accelerometer along 27 equally spaced locations. The results show that the relationship between the two components is approximately linear, as theory suggests, but the recorded values of particle velocity are generally larger than expected, particularly for the z-axis velocity which is shown to have a magnitude of 1 to 10 times (average 3.5) that of the theoretical velocity for a plane wave at the same sound pressure.Moreover, sound pressure and particle motion showed a different frequency distribution. For sound pressure, a shallow water cut-off frequency below approximately 400 Hz was observed in the power spectrum, which was not observed for particle velocity. This could be due to ground roll waves, but also wind induced waves and vibration on the cable could cause an increase in the low frequency vertical velocities.</p

Boat noise and black drum vocalizations in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Argentina)

Human-generated underwater noise and its effect on marine biota is recognized as an important issue. Boat noise can affect the communication success of fish species that use sounds for spawning purposes. During the reproductive period, males of the black drum Pogonias spp. produce calls ranging from 90 Hz to 300 Hz. In the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Pogonias courbina is one of the primary fishing species. Although no regulation is directly applied to protect it, a ban protects the reproductive period of other fish species during weekdays. Here, we investigated the potential effect of boat noise on P. courbina vocalizations through a passive acoustic method. Acoustic data were collected, and P. courbina calls were identified and counted. The files with boat noise passages were categorized into classes according to their noise frequency range (A = below 700 Hz, B = over 700 Hz, and C = below and above 700 Hz). The fish call rate was lower in files where boat noise overlapped the fish call frequency (Classes A and C). Only boat noise from Class C was significantly reduced during days with the active fishing ban. These results suggest that anthropogenic noise may affect the P. courbina call rate and underline the importance of including the evaluation of anthropogenic noise in the current management of the area.Fil: Ceraulo, Maria. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Istituto per lo studio degli impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino; ItaliaFil: Sal Moyano, María Paz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Hidalgo, Fernando Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Bazterrica, Maria Cielo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Mazzola, Salvatore. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Istituto per lo studio degli impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino; ItaliaFil: Gavio, Maria Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Buscaino, Giuseppa. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Istituto per lo studio degli impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino; Itali

Anthropogenic and biological sound effects on the maternal care behavior of a key crab species

IntroductionMaternal care in marine decapods involves eggs caring in the brood compartment until the larvae hatch. This behavior mainly allows embryo mass oxygen supply, ensuring healthy embryonic development. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of different sound sources (anthropogenic and biologic) and their temporal patterns (low and high rate: 1 min of the sound stimulus + 5 min of silence and 1 min of the sound stimulus + 1 min of silence, respectively) on the maternal care of the key crab species, Neohelice granulata.MethodsIn the laboratory, three acoustic stimuli were played back: an artificial white noise (10 Hz – 20 kHz), and two sounds obtained from the crabs´ natural habitat, motorboat passages and biological signals from a crabs’ predator fish. Three behavioral variables were quantified: still position, and two maternal care behaviors: abdominal flapping and chelae probing.ResultsResults demonstrated that the high rate anthropogenic stimuli, white noise and motorboat, affected all behavioral variables, increasing the still position and diminishing the maternal care behaviors. Otherwise, the predatory stimulus did not affect the still position although diminished the maternal care behaviors (high rate).DiscussionThe different behavioral response depending on the sound stimuli may indicate that crabs distinguish sound sources. The anthropogenic noise is suggested to cause distraction that is linked to the increased still position, while the predator stimulus would be associated with an alert behavior not affecting the locomotion behavior. The sound stimuli effect on the maternal care behavior revealed a negative effect that potentially could affect offspring survival. This is important considering the ecosystem engineering function of the studied key crab species. The reduction of the noise emission pattern rate is suggested as a mitigation action to diminish sound impact effects in the crab’s natural habitat. The study contributes the first to assessing the effect of different sound sources on the maternal care behavior of a crustacean species

Agonistic Behaviour and Sound Production during Male–Male Varunid Crabs (Cyrtograpsus angulatus, Dana 1851) Encounters

Crustacean sounds are the main contributor to shallow water soundscape biophonic components. Here, we investigate the sound production of Cyrtograpsus angulatus, one of the most important intertidal decapods of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Underwater audio and video were recorded during encounters among male pairs. Two kinds of experimental settings were conducted involving same size (SS) and different-size (DS) male crabs. Behavioural states, behavioural events and sound emission were investigated. SS spent more time in contact and still behaviour and showing competitive interactions than did DS. Crabs presented body displays involving chelae, legs, and maxillae movements with the same frequency in both settings. Our results demonstrate the production of impulsive sounds in male C. angulatus with high rates during contact and still behaviour (specifically during agonistic interactions and body displays without contact between individuals). Furthermore, we were able to describe behaviour-related variability within impulsive sounds. These outcomes provide a better understanding of the role and behavioural context of these sounds in the natural soundscape.Fil: Ceraulo, Maria. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Sal Moyano, María Paz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Bazterrica, Maria Cielo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Hidalgo, Fernando Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Snitman, Solana Morena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Papale, Elena. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Buscaino, Giuseppa. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Gavio, Maria Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin